The Vermont Democrat, who chairs the Senate Judiciary Committee, says more than 130 amendments have been filed to the bill. But he says that since debate began last week, the Senate has finished work on just one, with another handful set for consideration Tuesday afternoon.

Leahy blames 15 opponents of the bill for trying to slow up the Senate process and prevent the measure from coming to a vote.

He issued a statement saying he does not believe those 15 senators should be able to prevent the 84 who want a vote on the bill to proceed.